Mesembrinella batesi Aldrich, 1922

Whitworth, Terry L. & Yusseff-Vanegas, Sohath, 2019, A revision of the genera and species of the Neotropical family Mesembrinellidae (Diptera: Oestroidea), Zootaxa 4659 (1), pp. 1-146 : 112-113

Mesembrinella batesi Aldrich, 1922

( Figs 5 , 57–58 , 103 , 147–148 , 216 , 259 , 303 , 347 , 388 , 432 , 471 , 488 , 490 )

Mesembrinella batesi Aldrich, 1922: 15 . Holotype female (NHMUK), examined. Type locality: Brazil, R. Amazons [= Amazon River ].

Mesembrinella batesi: Peris & Mariluis (1984: 260) ; Toma & Carvalho (1995: 137); Kosmann et al. (2013: 78); Wolff (2013: 121); Marinho et al. (2017: tab. 1); Cerretti et al. (2017: tab. 2).

Diagnosis. A large dark fly averaging 12 mm (11–13/5) in length. Postpronotal lobe 3x 3, stem vein bare; wing with strong infuscation along anterior margin between costa and R 4+5; subcostal sclerite with long, dark setae; abdomen with heavy white tomentum and dark, pit-like areas around setal bases ( Fig. 103 ).

Redescription. Male. Head. Frons narrow, 0.017 (0.01–0.02/5) of head width at narrowest, about equal to width of base of arista; fronto-orbital broad below, very slender above, frontal setae ascending about 30% of distance to vertex; frontal vitta as an orange triangle in lower 1/3, obliterated above; parafacial bright silvery, narrow above, broad below; gena orange with short, tan setae and a horizontal row of stout setae extending across gena and lower parafacial to vibrissa; pale tomentum extending from occiput into posterodorsal corner of gena; postgena with silvery tomentum with long golden setae; occiput with heavy yellow tomentum and with long, weak pale yellow setae; median occipital sclerite shiny, dark orange; pedicel and first flagellomere yellow-orange; palpus typical; ocellar triangle small, anterior ocellus slightly larger than posterior ocelli; eye with median facets about 2x size of lateral facets; facial ridge with short row of dark brown supravibrissal setae ascending about 1/6 of distance to antennal base.

Thorax. Dorsum orange-brown with four broad irregular pale tomentose stripes, pleural area orange; chaetotaxy: ac variable, usually 2:3 but sometimes 2:1 or 2:2, dc 2:3, ia 1, ph 1, ppn 3x 3, kat 1:1, 1 pair converging ap, 1 weak sa, 1 weak lat, 1 stout bas, 1 weak pb, 1 disc; subscutellum moderately developed; spiracles medium-sized, pale yellow. Legs yellow-orange; mid and hind tibiae and tarsi tan. Wing with strong macula along anterior edge between costa and R 4+5; subcostal sclerite with long dark cilia ( Fig. 490 ); basicosta dark orange; tegula pale orange; section IV 0.36 of section III; calypters with tan discs; upper calypter with dark rim and short pale setae, lower calypter with pale rim and long, pale setae.

Abdomen. T1+2–5 more or less shiny blue and covered with heavy whitish tomentum, with dark pit-like areas around setal sockets ( Fig. 103 ); T3 with two pairs of lateral marginal setae, T4 with weak row of setae on posterior margin; disc of T5 with dense, fine setae only. Terminalia in left lateral view with surstylus curved backward, cercus nearly straight with apical hook ( Fig. 57 ); in posterior view, cerci with narrow base, of rectangular shape with blunt, rounded tips ( Fig. 58 ); phallus in lateral view with epiphallus with broad base and tip sharply curved backward to a fine point ( Fig. 147 ); in dorsal view, hypophallic lobes broad and elongate, oval-shaped ( Fig. 148 ); T6, STS7+8, pre- and postgonite, ejaculatory sclerite, ST6 and hypandrium as in Fig. 216 ; ST1–5 as in Fig. 259 , ST3–4 unusually narrow.

Female. Similar to male except frons 0.302 (0.29–0.31/5) of head width at narrowest. T6 of WV shape; T7 broad, continuous with anterior edge, recessed midway; T8 as separate sclerites ( Figs 303 ); ST6–8 and hypoproct as in Fig. 347 ; spermathecae filiform ( Fig. 388 ); ST1–5 as in Fig. 432 .

Type material examined. HOLOTYPE ♀ ( Brazil; NHMUK; Fig. 471 ), labeled: Brazil: / R. Amazons. / H.W. Bates. / 66.53.; Amazon. / 66 53; Mesembrinella / batesi / Type Ald.

Additional material examined. Brazil, Rondônia. 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀, 62 km SE Ariquemes , 22–31.x.1997, W.J. Han- son ( LACM) ; ♀ *, same data except 13–25.iv.1992 ( LACM) ; 2 ♀♀, same data except 8–20.xi.1994 ( LACM) ; 1 ♂, 1 ♀ *, 1 ♀, 62 km SE Ariquemes, nr. Fzda. Rancho Grande , 6–15.xii.1990, D.A. Rider & J.E. Eger ( FSCA) ; 1 ♀ *, 1 ♀ ♦ ( TLW424 ) , 4 ♀♀, same data except 4–16.XI.1997, Fish Carrion Pitfall, J.E. Eger ( LACM) ; 1 ♂♦ ( TLW421 ) , 1 ♀, same data except 3–15.xii.1996, MV & black lights, J.E. Eger ( LACM) ; 1 ♀, 160–350 m vic. Caucalandia , 10°32ʹS 62°48ʹW, 12–13.x.1991, pitfall trap baited with human feces, J.R. MacDonald ( MEM) . Ecuador, Napo. 1 ♂♦ ( TLW228 ) , 1 ♂, 1 ♀ ♦ ( TLW231 ) , 1 ♀, Misahualli nr. Tena , 6–19.x.2001, Mal. Tr., C. Brammer ( LACM) ; 1 ♂*, 1 ♂♦ ( TLW227 ) , 1 ♀ ♦ ( TLW229 ) , same data except 27.iv–2.v.2003 ( LACM) ; 1 ♂, same data except Yasuni Res. Sta. , 0°40.566ʹS 076°23.851ʹW, 250 m, M.T. ( LACM) . Orellana. 1 ♀ ♦ ( TLW230 ) , RioTiputini , 0°38.2ʹS 76°8.9ʹW, 12–26.viii.1999, W.N. Mathis, A. Baptista, M. Kotrba ( LACM) . Pastaza. 1 ♂, Limoncocha, 70 mi. SE, on Rio Cononaco, at Anglo air strip, 1°19ʹS– 76°6ʹW, 29.v.1976, Malaise trap, J. Cohen ( LACM) . Peru, Cusco. 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀, Pilocapata, Villa Carmen Biológica Sta. , 12°53ʹS 71°24ʹW, i–iii.2013, E. Rodriguez ( FSCA) ; 1 ♀ ♦ ( TLW422 ) , same data except v.2014, multilure trap, M. Choque ( FSCA) ; 1 ♂*, Estación Biológica Villa Carmen , clearing edge, 12°53ʹ39ʺS 71°24ʹ14ʺW, xi.2012, T. Forster ( USNM) ; 1 ♀ ♦ ( TLW423 ) , same data except 12.xii.2013, bait trap, dead fish, A.L. Norbom, B.D. Sutton ( FSCA) . Loreto. 1 ♀, 80 km NE Iquitos, Explorama Lodge, 11 km from Amazon R. on Rio Yanamono , 1–5.ix.1992, human dung trap, Castner & Skelley ( FSCA) ; 1 ♂*, La Merced, Fundo Genova , 30.vii.2008, [no collector] ( CEUA) .

Distribution. Brazil, Ecuador, Peru. Marinho et al. (2017) also listed it from Colombia, Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago.

Remarks. Eight specimens were barcoded, from Ecuador ( TLW 227–230), Peru ( TLW 422–423) and Brazil ( TLW 421 and TLW 424). An additional GenBank sequence from Brazil ( KR820711 ) was added to the analysis. All sequences clustered together, with some genetic variation likely based on geographical separation. The genetic distance between sequences from within Ecuador was less than 2%, whereas between sequences from Peru and Ecuador it was around 6% and between sequences from Brazil and Ecuador it was around 5% ( Fig. 488 ). This is a distinctive species and no significant morphological differences were found in specimens from different countries.

Figures

FIGURE 488. Neighbor-joining tree of COI DNA barcode sequences of specimens and species of Mesembrinellidae, using K2P distances and generated in BOLD; species names on the tree are followed by BOLD accession number, voucher number, country of origin, number of sequenced base pairs and number of ambiguous nucleotides.

FIGURES 1–8. Diagnostic characters of Mesembrinellidae and Calliphoridae. 1. Wing of Mesembrinella flavicrura Aldrich, showing veins and cells. 2. Wing of M. currani Guimar„es, showing infuscated anterior margin. 3. Wing of Laneella fusconitida sp. nov., showing dark macula around crossvein r-m. 4. Wing of Calliphora vomitoria (Linnaeus), showing acute bend of vein M. 5. Anterior spiracle of Mesembrinella batesi Aldrich, showing broad oval opening above. 6. Anterior spiracle of M. bolivar (Bonatto), showing long, narrow opening gradually widening above. 7. Meral setae and posterior spiracle of M. bicolor (Fabricius). 8. Last abdominal tergites of M. vogelsangi (Mello), showing setae.

FIGURES 57–62. Left lateral and posterior views of epandrium, cerci and surstyli of Mesembrinella spp. 57–58. M. batesi Aldrich. 59–60. M. bellardiana Aldrich. 61–62. M. benoisti (Séguy).

FIGURES 103–104. Mesembrinella spp., abdomens in posterior view. 103. Mesembrinella batesi Aldrich, showing heavy whitish tomentum with dark “pits” around setal sockets. 104. Mesembrinella spicata Aldrich, showing unusual shape of T6, STS7+8 and epandrium.

FIGURES 145–152. Left lateral and dorsal views of phallus of Mesembrinella spp. 145–146. M. zurquiensis sp. nov. 147–148. M. batesi Aldrich. 149–150. M. bellardiana Aldrich. 151–152. M. benoisti (Séguy).

FIGURES 216–221. Male terminalia of Mesembrinella spp. (a = T6, STS7+8; b = pre- and postgonite; c = ejaculatory sclerite; d = ST6; e = hypandrium). 216. M. batesi Aldrich. 217. M. bellardiana Aldrich. 218. M. benoisti (Séguy). 219. M. bicolor (Fabricius). 220. M. brunnipes Surcouf. 221. M. bullata sp. nov.

FIGURES 252–265. Male sternites of Mesembrinella spp. 252. M. nigrocoerulea sp. nov. 253. M. purpurata Aldrich. 254. M. semiflava Aldrich. 255. M. uniseta Aldrich. 256. M. violacea sp. nov. 257. M. vogelsangi (Mello). 258. M. zurquiensis sp. nov. 259. M. batesi Aldrich. 260. M. bellardiana Aldrich. 261. M. benoisti (Séguy). 262. M. bicolor (Fabricius). 263. M. brunnipes Surcouf. 264. M. bullata sp. nov. 265. M. chantryi sp. nov.

FIGURES 300–305. Female terminalia (T6–T8, epiproct, cerci) of Mesembrinella spp., dorsal view. 300. M. vogelsangi (Mello). 301. M. zurquiensis sp. nov. 302. M. apollinaris Séguy. 303. M. batesi Aldrich. 304. M. bellardiana Aldrich. 305. M. benoisti (Séguy).

FIGURES 326–349. ST6–8 and hypoproct of Mesembrinellidae. 326. Laneella fusconitida sp. nov. 327. L. fuscosquamata sp. nov. 328. L. nigripes Guimar„es. 329. L. perisi (Mariluis). 330. L. purpurea sp. nov. 331. Mesembrinella latifrons (Mello). 332. M. guaramacalensis sp. nov. 333. M. mexicana sp. nov. 334. M. spicata Aldrich. 335. M. epandrioaurantia sp. nov. 336. M. aeneiventris (Wiedemann). 337. M. decrepita Séguy. 338. M. lara (Bonatto). 339. M. nigrocoerulea sp. nov. 340. M. purpurata Aldrich. 341. M. semiflava Aldrich. 342. M. uniseta Aldrich. 343. M. violacea sp. nov. 344. M. vogelsangi (Mello). 345. M. zurquiensis sp. nov. 346. M. apollinaris Séguy. 347. M. batesi Aldrich. 348. M. bellardiana Aldrich. 349. M. benoisti (Séguy).

FIGURES 370–400. Spermathecae of Mesembrinellidae. 370. L. fusconitida sp. nov. 371. L. fuscosquamata sp. nov. 372. L. nigripes Guimar„es. 373. L. perisi (Mariluis). 374. L. purpurea sp. nov. 375. Mesembrinella guaramacalensis sp. nov. 376. M. mexicana sp. nov. 377. M. spicata Aldrich. 378. M. aeneiventris (Wiedemann). 379. M. decrepita Séguy. 380. M. lara (Bonatto). 381. M. nigrocoerulea sp. nov. 382. M. purpurata Aldrich. 383. M. semiflava Aldrich. 384. M. uniseta Aldrich. 385. M. vogelsangi (Mello). 386. M. zurquiensis sp. nov. 387. M. apollinaris Séguy. 388. M. batesi Aldrich. 389. M. bellardiana Aldrich. 390. M. benoisti (Séguy). 391. M. bicolor (Fabricius). 392. M. brunnipes Surcouf. 393. M. bullata sp. nov. 394. M. chantryi sp. nov. 395. M. currani Guimar„es. 396. M. cyaneicincta (Surcouf). 397. M. flavicrura Aldrich. 398. M. longicercus sp. nov. 399. M. peregrina Aldrich. 400. M. pictipennis Aldrich.

FIGURES 424–438. Female sternites of Mesembrinella spp. 424. M. nigrocoerulea sp. nov. 425. M. purpurata Aldrich. 426. M. semiflava Aldrich. 427. M. uniseta Aldrich. 428. M. violacea sp. nov. 429. M. vogelsangi (Mello). 430. M. zurquiensis sp. nov. 431. M. apollinaris Séguy. 432. M. batesi Aldrich. 433. M. bellardiana Aldrich. 434. M. benoisti (Séguy). 435. M. bicolor (Fabricius). 436. M. brunnipes Surcouf. 437. M. bullata sp. nov. 438. M. chantryi sp. nov.

FIGURES 470–473. Habitus and labels of holotypes. 470. Mesembrinella zurquiensis sp. nov. (INBIO). 471. M. batesi Aldrich (NHMUK). 472. M. bellardiana Aldrich (USNM). 473. M. bullata sp. nov. (CNC).

FIGURES 489–497. Diagnostic characters of Mesembrinella spp. 489. Dorsal view of stem vein of wing of M. bellardiana Aldrich showing stem vein setose. 490. Detail of wing of M. batesi Aldrich in ventral view, showing setose condition of subcostal sclerite. 491. Epandrium of M. mexicana sp. nov. in posterior view, showing broad dorsal division found in M. spicata group. 492. Detail of abdomen of male M. epandrioaurantia sp. nov., showing orange color of rear segments. 493. Detail of dorsal habitus of M. socors (Walker), showing triangle of bluish cuticle on hind margin T3. 494. Wing of M. pictipennis Aldrich, showing pattern of infuscation. 495. Posterodorsal habitus of male M. townsendi Guimar„es, showing wing pattern and stripes on thorax. 496. Detail of male abdomen of M. anomala (Guimar„es), showing relative lengths of T4 and T5. 497. Same as previous, showing modification of T6, STS7+8 and epandrium.